Trip Reports
Report on my birdwatching trip to the Gambia in November 2006
Here's a trip report with a difference - one where I was the paying customer and a long way from Northumberland! The week-long trip in November was my personal birdwatching highlight of 2006. It would be very tempting to wax lyrical at some length about the superb array of colourful birds we saw including the 7 species of Kingfisher and 5 species of Roller, but a web search will quickly reveal just how wonderful this small West African country is for birds. The 3 of us saw 201 species in a week without travelling more than 15 miles from our coastal base, largely thanks to 2 excellent local guides whom I would strongly recommend. Our main guide, Masaneh Sanyang, had the amazing ability to lure birds by making a variety of bird calls which prompted inquisitive birds to call back or even to come close and look at us. What a technique, but unfortunately my inability to whistle prevents me from using the same approach on Holy Island!
If you want a winter sun holiday with a difference, try the Gambia. The birds are great, but make sure you hire a guide like Masaneh or Alagie Trawally. They can be contacted by email at masssanyang55@hotmail.com and at alagietrawally@yahoo.com. If you need more details about either guide or about the Gambia, please phone me and I would be happy to offer advice. I intend to go back at the earliest opportunity!
Mark Winter